Here are some of the best things to do this weekend in San Diego from Friday, June 21 to Sunday, June 23.
Friday
Craig Ferguson, Arsenio Hall and Jay Leno: Three of televisions most well-known faces will combine for a “Kings of Late Night” show as part of the San Diego County Fair’s summer concert series. Fans may remember them from “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” the “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and “The Arsenio Hall Show.” Other upcoming performances in the series include Pancho Barraza, Smokey Robinson and Little Big Town. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Corona Grandstand Stage, Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. General admission comes with fair tickets, reserved seating starts at $75. sdfair.com/events/2024/kings-of-late-night
Black art celebration in Chula Vista:The San Diego Art Directory and the Liberation Through Art are hosting an art show in honor of Juneteenth. This event will highlight the African diaspora, Black artists and supporters of Black culture. The public can meet with featured artists and organizations, and there will also be free food for guests.4:30 p.m. June 21.Chula Vista Otay Ranch Branch Library,2015 Birch Road Suite 1103, Chula Vista.Free.sandiegoartdirectory.com/directory/black-in-art-juneteenth-celebration
San Diego Black Arts Festival:Staged readings, solo performances and visual arts can be found at the San Diego Black Arts Festival. This three-day event will showcase Black voices and talent. The Old Globe is hosting this event that is presented by the San Diego Black Artist Collective.8 p.m. June 21 and 22. 2 p.m. June 23. 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego. (619) 231-1941,theoldglobe.org/pdp/24-season/community-events/black-arts-festival
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”: Lamb’s Players Theatre presents William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s audience-interactive comedy musical about five awkward adolescent contestants at a regional spelling bee. 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Aug. 18. Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $38-$92. (619) 437-6000, lambsplayers.org
“Escape to Margaritaville”: Moonlight Stage Productions presents this Jimmy Buffett jukebox musical about four people unexpectedly finding their soulmates on a tropical island. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Moonlight Amphitheatre, Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Way, Vista. $15-$60. (760) 724-2110, moonlightstage.com
Make Music Day: Apt 5 Music will host an event celebrating music in San Diego with performances and workshops. 4 to 9 p.m. Friday. Liberty Station’s North Promenade near Stone Brewery. Free. libertystation.com/do/apt-4-musics-annual-make-music-day
“Pásale Pásale”: TuYo Theatre presents this audience-interactive musical by Mario Vega and Eliza Vedar, set at a San Diego swap meet, where hard-working immigrant vendors fight for their humble way of life against a greedy landlord. 6:30 and 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays; through Sunday at Bayfront Charter School, 830 Bay Blvd. Chula Vista; and . Performances June 27-30 at National City Chamber of Commerce, 901 National City Blvd., National City. $25-$30. tuyotheatre.org
“The Ballad of Johnny and June”:La Jolla Playhouse presents the world premiere jukebox musical on the lives and music of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through July 7; Mandell Weiss Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. $25-$119. (858) 550-1010, lajollaplayhouse.org
“Camelot”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents Lerner and Loewe’s classic musical about King Arthur, Guenevere, Lancelot and the Knights of the Round Table. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through July 7. 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. $54-$79. northcoastrep.org
Whitney & Maria: CCAE Theatricals presents this cabaret concert honoring the music of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, starring Daebreon Poiema, Kori Gillis, Patricia Jewel and Destiny Lofton. 8 p.m. tonight; 7 p.m. Saturday. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $36-$50. theatricals.org
Saturday
Summer movies in the park in El Cajon: Each weekend through Aug. 17 (except July 4 weekend) El Cajon will host a movie night with crafts, games and other family fun. This week’s movie will be “Elemental” in Wells Park on Saturday. The movie begins afer sunset. 1153 East Madison Ave., El Cajon. Free. downtownelcajon.com
Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off: Combining food, shopping, art, entertainment and beach vibes, this annual street fair brings thousands of people to Ocean Beach. Amateur chefs will compete in a chili cook-off for prizes, including people’s choice award and hottest chili. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach. Free. oceanbeachsandiego.com/attractions/annual-events/ob-street-fair-chili-cook
Out at the fair: It’s Pride Month and the San Diego County Fair is hosting the 12th annual Out at the Fair day. This celebration will be held at the Paddock Stage and feature performances from LGBTQ+ artists such as live music, dancing, a storytelling session, a glam show and more. Entry to this event is included with a San Diego County Fair general admission ticket. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar. outatthefair.com/sdfair
Lao Food Festival: Experience the culinary culture of Laos at the second-annual San Diego Lao Food Festival. The event will have various traditional foods from Laos for sale, food demonstrations, contests, live music, cultural performances and more. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Mira Mesa Community Park, 8575 New Salem St., San Diego. $6-$18. laofoodfestival.org
Santee Pride Walk: The Santee United Methodist Church is organizing a Santee Pride Walk. The event starts at 11 a.m. with guest speakers. The two-mile walk starts at noon. There will also be food vendors and informational tables. This event is open to everyone and is intended to celebrate and honor inclusion and diversity in the Santee community. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. 8964 Magnolia Ave., Santee. Free. santeeumc.org
Mainly Mozart All Star Orchestra Festival: The weeklong fest continues Saturday at two locations in La Jolla. On Saturday at 7:30 p.m., the musicians are joined by the San Diego Master Chorale and soprano Erica Petrocelli at Epstein Family Amphitheater, UC San Diego. At 3 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, they’ll perform at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. Sunday’s program is Mozart’s Gran Partita and on Tuesday it will be Tchaikovsky and Britten. Then they return to the Epstein at 7:30 p.m. Thursday for works by Mozart, Gulda and deMaine. $49 and up. For details, visit mainlymozart.org
Summer Fun on the 101: The Leucadia 101 Main Street Association will host a beach-side music festival with a lineup curated by the Ruthless Hippies. 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. 6/22 Leucadia Roadside Park, 860 N. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas. Free. leucadia101.com/meetinginfo.php?id=18&ts=1717035067
San Diego Scottish Highland Games: All things Scottish will be celebrated at the local version of the Scottish Highland Games. Find bagpipes, kilts, dancing, whiskey tasting and other activities taking place. There will also be athletic competitions in events such as heavy hammer and a stone toss. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista. sdhighlandgames.org
Learn about Paul Robeson:The World Beat Center will showcase Stogie Kenyatta’s “The World Is My Home: The Life and Times of Paul Robeson.” The program highlights Robeson’s life achievements, including graduating as valedictorian from Rutgers University in 1919 and becoming the first Black lawyer at a New York law firm. Robeson was also an All-American football player who is in the NFL Hall of Fame.7 to 9 p.m. June 22. 4:30 to 6 p.m. June 23. 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego.worldbeatcenter.org/events
AleSmith hosting inaugural burger pop-up event: AleSmith is hosting its first burger showcase event on Saturday. Six burger restaurants will be participating: Average Joes Burgers, Bonehead Burgers, E.L.E. Burger, Full Metal Burger, Gud Mud Fud Burger and RomBomb Burger. AleSmith beers will also be on sale, with the .394 Pale Ale beer available for $5 during the San Diego Padres game. The event is free to attend and is open to all ages. The tasting room opens at 11 a.m and burgers will be available from noon to 5 p.m.noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. 9990 AleSmith Court, San Diego. (858) 549-9888, alesmith.com
‘The Color Purple’ opens Saturday in Carlsbad: New Village Arts presents the musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about Celie, an indomitable Southern Black woman in early 1900s Georgia. Opens Saturday and runs through July 21. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Select Wednesdays at 2 p.m. 2787 State St., Carlsbad. $33 and up. (760) 433-3245, newvillagearts.org
Music en la Calle International Music Festival:Bodhi Tree Concerts presents a free, all-day program of music, including Latin jazz, opera, hip hop and Japanese drumming. The event will also include free art projects, games, books for kids and food and vendor booths. Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. City Heights Performance Annex and library. 3795 Fairmount Ave., San Diego. Free. bodhitreeconcerts.org/music-en-la-calle-2024
Sunday
Youth workshops at World Beat Center: The World Beat Center is holding educational workshops for youth 17 years and under. Attendees to the Threads of Freedom event will learn the basics of sewing, the history of the underground railroad and hear from community activists. All supplies will be provided.Noon to 4 p.m. June 23. 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego.Free.worldbeatcenter.org/event/threads-of-freedom
Family Sunday at Mingei: Mingei International Museum will host a Family Sunday event with a theme of “What’s the tea.” It is inspired by the Mingei’s ongoing exhibition, “Cups to Connections: Global Gestures of Hospitality.” Workshop participants can blend their own teas using a selection of loose-leaf teas such as dandelion, chamomile and butterfly pea flower and decorate their own paper tea box. Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Education Center, 1439 El Prado, in Balboa Park. Visit mingei.org/events/family-friendly/june-2024-family-sunday.
Ice cream and gelato festival: The sixth-annual Scoop San Diego Ice Cream Festival returns to North Park on Sunday. This event gathers over 25 local gelato, ice cream and paleta shops. New to this year’s festival is a VIP ice cream lounge, activities for kids, live demonstrations, stilt walkers, a pup station and more. The event will take place on North Park Way between 30th Street and Granada Avenue. Funds from the event go to support the Berry Good Food Foundation. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 23. 3812 29th St., San Diego. $45-$100. scoopsandiego.org
Summer Solstic Makers Bazaar:Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel will host its first marketplace featuring various artists and crafts makers. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. 44500 Old Hwy 80, Jacumba Hot Springs. Free. jacumba.com/pages/calendar
